BOONE, Iowa—Known for their work to eliminate substandard housing with families in need, local Habitat for Humanity volunteers have their eye on helping another set of Boone County residents with improved living conditions.
Home Tweet Home is a festive Habitat awareness and fundraising event featuring homes for our native songbird populations. Some of the birdhouses, though, are likely to be far too nice to ever make it outdoors.
Returning for a second year, the Home Tweet Home event will be held at Snus Hill Winery near Madrid. Planned to coincide with groundbreaking on Habitat’s 28th home, the event is scheduled for Friday evening,April 20, 2018. That’s over three months away, so why the early announcement?
A main focus of the event is the opportunity for attendees to bid on and purchase birdhouses decorated by each of the Boone County schools plus boosters of Iowa’s two largest public universities. There is plenty of time to complete their creations.
Madrid High School won the inaugural School Pride Award at the 2017 Home Tweet Home, having secured the highest bid for their creation. The University of Iowa boosters won the School Spirit Award.
This year Habitat has also challenged financial institutions across Boone County to decorate birdhouses with the Best in Show Award bestowed upon the one attracting the largest silent auction bid. Participants include: Bank of the West (Boone), Boone Bank & Trust Co., City State Bank (Madrid), Members First Community Credit Union (Boone), Peoples Trust & Savings Bank (Ogden), United Bank of Iowa (Boone), US Bank (Boone), VisionBank (Boone) and VisionBank (Ogden). Nerem and Associates Real Estate and Insurance won the 2017 Best in Show Award with the top entry from Boone County Realtors.
Space has also been set aside for a limited number of birdhouses crafted by local artisans in the open class competing for the prestigious People’s Choice Award. This is where some of the most unique and sought-after birdhouses appear. Pastor Janell Bloom of First Baptist Church in Boone created the award-winning custom birdhouse in 2017 with her folk art-inspired wood burning and paint design.
Those wanting to create a birdhouse for the open class are encouraged to contact Heart of Iowa Habitat for Humanity at 515-432-1168 or at their 720 Story Street office in Boone. Emails can be directed to director@heartofiowahabitat.org. Birdhouses are first-come first-accepted until a total of ten are committed. Limit one birdhouse per entrant.
While Home Tweet Home focuses on birdhouses, the event also includes sampling of award-winning Snus Hill wines served by local celebrity waiters, along with a tempting buffet dinner. Event tickets are $20 and available at the Habitat for Humanity office in Boone.
Home Tweet Home will be a welcome addition to the fresh colors of spring in Boone County and promises to be another fun event helping Heart of Iowa Habitat for Humanity to continue providing safe, healthy and affordable housing opportunities for local families in need.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit Christian ministry dedicated to eliminating substandard and poverty housing. All persons are welcome as partner families and volunteers regardless of religious beliefs or affiliations.
